Homemade Grape Wine

by Jeff
(Alberta)

Home made Grape Wine Ingredients: 1.seeded or seedless grapes-2lbs or 1kg approx 2.Sugar - 4lbs or 2kg approx(double the quantity of grapes) 3.Water -4.5 liters(boiled or cooled) 4.Active Dry Yeast - 2tsps 5.Luke warm water - 1/2 cup(for dissolving the yeast) 6.Cinnamon stick -1(optional) 7.Cloves-3(optional) 8.Sugar - 1/2 cup (For Caramelizing) Preparation method: * Take a clean Ceramic/Glass Jar and allow it to the sun dry before using it for making wine. * Dissolve yeast to lukewarm water and keep it for 10 to 15 minutes so that it rises. *Wash grapes and crush it either with hands or using wooden spatula and should aware for removing stalks.Add half quantity of sugar to the crushed grapes and mix well. * Transfer sugar and grape mix to ceramic/glass jar and add yeast to the jar. * Add cinnamon and cloves.This will give the wine a very nice spicy aroma and flavor. * Add boiled and cooled water to the jar.Mix everything well and keep the jar closed and airtight for 21 days. *Stir the mixture with a wooden spatula every day for 21 days. *After 21 days, strain the grape pulp mixture into another vessel using a muslin cloth or clean unbleached cotton cloth.Add the remaining 2lb sugar and mix well.The wine will be hazy at this stage. * Keep it for another 21 days so that the sediments settle down and the wine becomes clear. * Strain the mixture again using a muslin cloth without disturbing the sediments. * For coloring the wine add caramelized sugar to the wine and the wine had a rich golden color.You can add the caramelized sugar to the wine a few days before straining it from the glass jar.Please refer below for details on coloring the wine. * Store the wine in clean dry glass bottles.While serving pour it carefully without disturbing the sediments.The longer the wine is stored,the better the taste. Procedure for Caramelizing Sugar: *Take a saucepan and add 1/2 cup sugar. *Place it on medium heat and keep on stirring continuously till the sugar melts and becomes a dark brown color.Keep scraping down the sides of the pan so that the sugar gets caramelize evenly. * Removing from fire and place the pan in ice cool water so the sugar doesn't get burnt. * Add 4-5 tbsps of hot water to this sugar syrup and mix well.Cool and add the syrup to the wine in the ceramic/glass jar and mix well. * The wine will attain darker color after a few days. Note: * You may skip the spices like cinnamon and cloves. * You can increase or decrease the amount of sugar used to suit your taste buds.